Creatine kinase and blood pressure: Clinical and therapeutic implications

Hypertension affects more than one billion people worldwide and is one of the most powerful contributors to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Black people of African descent are more often affected by the disease. One of the biological factors contributing to this difference is the enzyme creatine kinase, a key player in cellular energy metabolism. High activity of this enzyme, common in black people, has been linked to hypertension. In this thesis, we aimed to provide further insight into the association of creatine kinase with blood pressure. Furthermore, we extended our research to the role of creatine kinase in hypertension associated conditions, as ethnic disparities are also found in these entities. Finally, we focused on the creatine kinase system as a new target for hypertension treatment